EUS-guided thrombin injection and coil implantation for gastric varices: feasibility, safety, and outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Gastric varices (GVs) are reported in up to 20% of patients with portal hypertension, and bleeding is often more severe and challenging than esophageal variceal bleeding. Data are limited on prophylaxis of GV bleeding or management in the acute setting, and different techniques are used. This study evaluated outcomes after EUS-guided placement of coils in combination with thrombin to manage GVs. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients treated with combination EUS-guided therapy with coils and thrombin between October 2015 and February 2020. RESULTS: Twenty patients underwent 33 procedures for GV therapy; 16 of 20 (80%) had type 1 isolated GVs and 4 patients had type 2 gastroesophageal varices. The median follow-up was 842 days (interquartile range [IQR], 483-961). Seventeen patients (85%) had underlying cirrhosis, the most common etiologies being alcohol-related liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The median Child-Pugh score was 6 (IQR, 5-7). In 11 patients (55%), the indication was secondary prophylaxis to prevent recurrent bleeding; in 2 of 20 patients (10%), the bleeding was acute. Technical success was achieved in 19 patients (95%). During follow-up, the obliteration of flow within the varices was achieved in 17 patients (85%). The 6-week survival rate was 100%, and 2 adverse events, recurrent bleeding at day 5 and at day 37, were reported; both recurrent bleeding events were successfully managed endoscopically. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-guided GV obliteration combining coil placement with thrombin, in our experience, was technically safe with good medium-term efficacy. A multicenter randomized controlled trial comparing different treatment strategies is desirable to understand options better.

A randomized trial of normothermic preservation in liver transplantation.

Liver transplantation is a highly successful treatment, but is severely limited by the shortage in donor organs. However, many potential donor organs cannot be used; this is because sub-optimal livers do not tolerate conventional cold storage and there is no reliable way to assess organ viability preoperatively. Normothermic machine perfusion maintains the liver in a physiological state, avoids cooling and allows recovery and functional testing. Here we show that, in a randomized trial with 220 liver transplantations, compared to conventional static cold storage, normothermic preservation is associated with a 50% lower level of graft injury, measured by hepatocellular enzyme release, despite a 50% lower rate of organ discard and a 54% longer mean preservation time. There was no significant difference in bile duct complications, graft survival or survival of the patient. If translated to clinical practice, these results would have a major impact on liver transplant outcomes and waiting list mortality.

Exceptional serological and radiological response to sorafenib in 2 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic hepatitis C viral infection: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: In patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib is the only systemic treatment that has been shown to increase overall survival. However, similar to other tyrosine kinase inhibitors, most patients achieve disease stabilisation radiologically, and only 2-3% of patients achieve a partial response. Recent exploratory subgroup analyses of the large phase 3 trials have demonstrated that patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection associated HCC survive longer than those who are negative for HCV. The mechanism underlying this currently remains unknown. A small number of cases of complete response to sorafenib treatment have now been reported worldwide, however a prolonged response has only been reported in 2 cases, both of whom had HCV-related HCC. CASE PRESENTATION: A 55 year old gentleman was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma and concomitant chronic hepatitis C viral infection. He progressed following transarterial chemoemoblisation treatment and was commenced on sorafenib treatment. His serum alphafetoprotein level normalised within 2 months of treatment and he achieved an almost complete radiological response. This response was maintained for 20 months before the patient progressed. A 75 year old lady was diagnosed with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and concomitant chronic hepatitis C viral infection. She was commenced on sorafenib treatment but required early dose reductions due to palmar plantar erythrodysesthesia, and liver decompensation. Despite this she achieved an excellent serological and radiological response that was maintained for 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our two cases show that patients with HCV-associated HCC can attain excellent responses to sorafenib treatment that is durable. Furthermore, such exceptional responses can be achieved even with dose reductions and treatment breaks.

Technical and clinical outcomes following EUS-guided thrombin injection and coil implantation for parastomal varices.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Bleeding from parastomal varices causes significant morbidity and mortality. Treatment options are limited, particularly in high-risk patients with significant underlying liver disease and other comorbidities. The use of EUS-guided embolisation coils combined with thrombin injection in gastric varices has been shown to be safe and effective. Our institution has applied the same technique to the treatment of parastomal varices. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of 37 procedures on 24 patients to assess efficacy and safety of EUS-guided injection of thrombin, with or without embolisation coils for treatment of bleeding parastomal varices. All patients had been discussed in a multidisciplinary team meeting, and correction of portal hypertension was deemed to be contraindicated. Rebleeding was defined as stomal bleeding that required hospital admission or transfusion. RESULTS: All patients had significant parastomal bleeding at the time of referral. 100% technical success rate was achieved. 70.8% of patients had no further significant bleeding in the follow-up period (median 26.2 months) following one procedure. 1-year rebleed-free survival was 80.8% following first procedure. 7 patients (29.1%) had repeat procedures. There was no significant difference in rebleed-free survival following repeat procedures. Higher age was associated with higher risk of rebleeding. No major procedure-related complications were identified. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-guided thrombin injection, with or without embolisation coils, is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of bleeding parastomal varices, particularly for patients for whom correction of portal venous hypertension is contraindicated.

More than meets the eye: subtle but important CT findings in Bouveret's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Gallstones are a rare cause of duodenal or gastric outlet obstruction and therefore are not commonly suspected. Rigler's radiographic triad of pneumobilia, bowel obstruction, and an ectopic gallstone is seen in few of these patients. The symptoms are insidious and nonspecific, and the diagnosis is usually made radiologically. Although CT scans are far more sensitive, 25% of cases are still missed, often because the size of the offending gallstone is underestimated. CONCLUSION: Better assessment of stone size, and therefore higher accuracy of diagnosis, could be achieved if attention is paid to more subtle but nonetheless important signs. These include compressed air in dependent areas of the duodenal lumen, an area of soft-tissue rather than fluid density surrounding the calcified rim of the stone, and a faint radiolucency in or beyond this soft-tissue area that could represent laminations of fat or air in the stone.

Radiation exposure during paediatric emergency CT: time we took notice?

INTRODUCTION: Concerns exist about radiation exposure during medical imaging. Comprehensive computerised tomography (CT) dose standards exist for adults, but are incomplete for children. We investigated paediatric CT radiation doses at a NHS Trust in order to define the extent of the risk. METHODS: CT dose indicators (CTDI) were recorded for all scans on paediatric patients from January - December 2011 and benchmarked against American College of Radiologists reference levels (75 mGy for adult head, 25 mGy for adult abdomen, and 20 mGy for paediatric (5-year-old) abdomen). Size-specific dose estimates (SSDE) were calculated based on effective patient diameter as recommended by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine. Student t-test was used to compare CTDI and SSDE values for each anatomical region. RESULTS: Of 53,648 paediatric emergency presentations, CT was requested in 211 (0.39%). One hundred fifty-four patients underwent 169 scans, with the rest being cancelled for clinical improvement or senior overrule. Indication for CT was trauma in 130/154 (90%), of which 55% were after falls, 19% following road traffic collisions, 12% after sporting injury, and 12% after alleged assault. CTDI values were available for 96/169 (57%) scans, with the rest lacking sufficient data. There was no significant difference between CTDI and derived SSDE values. 3% of head scans exceeded the adult head reference level. CONCLUSION: There is wide variation in radiation exposure during paediatric trauma CT, with some scans delivering doses in excess of recommended adult values. There is an urgent need to define standards for radiation dose in paediatric CT for all ages and anatomical regions.